Zambia vows to fight the scourge of gender-based violence and to invest in women’s economic empowerment

Twenty years since the Beijing Platform for Action and 15 years since the Millennium Declaration, much has been accomplished, but more must be done, and Zambia is dedicated to ensuring that this happens. It aims to address persistent gender inequalities and empower women in the pursuit of national development. It will fight the continued scourge of violence against women and girls—including trafficking and forced early and child marriage. At the same time, Zambia pledges to invest in women’s economic empowerment, such as through the facilitation of access to and control of land and other resources, and enhanced credit for small to medium businesses. It envisions a government with full participation of men and women in decision-making processes, and aspires for sustainable development where no one is left behind on account of sex, age, social or economic and health status. Speaking at the Global Leaders' Meeting on 27 September 2015, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu said: “Much has been accomplished, [but] I believe a lot more remains to be done. I therefore wish to commit myself and the people of Zambia to ensuring that what remains to be done will truly be done.”